The Intake Specialist completes initial assessments of clients in person and via telehealth.  They complete an initial intake and provide appointments and referrals for additional MBH services and assist with connecting to other community resources as needed.  The Intake Specialist will provide immediate support and stabilization services to anyone presenting in crisis in office, via telehealth, or those presenting to local Emergency Departments, and will facilitate transfers to the Emergency Department if needed.  Services include symptom assessment and triage, urgent and non-urgent care advice, determining service needs and scheduling of appointments. Will provide office based short-term case management services to clients needing additional assistance connecting to community resources such as: obtaining transportation, housing, food resources, applying for benefits, etc. The Intake Specialist will work with multiple teams within MHS to ensure the highest quality level of service is delivered

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or closely related human service field required; or meets the “Mental Health Professional” (MHP) designation as determined by the Department of Human Services; CRSS designation meets DHS MHP requirement

• Ability to work in an office and remotely
• Knowledge of the DSM-V and ability to diagnose and triage for appropriate referrals
• Knowledge of risk assessment and ability to use appropriate de-escalation strategies
• Knowledge of the local and regional community resources.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work with multiple entities and maintain positive working relationships
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams
• Must be comfortable working in multiple electronic health records/systems
• Must be able to participate in after-hours emergency services as requested.
• Must be able to complete paperwork per policies and funding source requirements

1. Direct Clinical Services

• Provide emotional support, assessment and documentation, including IMCANS, of medical, social, behavioral, cognitive, and pharmaceutical risk factors, triage behavioral health issues, and identify the appropriate venue of care.
• Responsible for coordinating initial care entry across the continuum and closing the communication loop for any referrals made on behalf of clients/patients.
• Will serve as a single point of contact while assisting in coordination of referrals from outside agencies to assist in connecting clients to the most appropriate services. Participates in Psychiatric Response Team (PRT) On-Call Rotation, including after hours, conducting assessments for individuals presenting in crisis in office, telehealth, or Emergency room in catchment area and assist manager in ensuring coverage of open shifts as needed.
• Responsible for assessing barriers to care and identifying ways in which to address those barriers

• Develop initial comprehensive assessment data including clients presenting problems, mental status, relevant psychiatric, medical and developmental histories to make decisions regarding diagnosis (per DSM-V), treatment objectives and ongoing treatment plans and/or to provide information and make appropriate referrals to other treatment resources in the community.
• Implement crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal or severely disabled clients. Make appropriate referrals to consulting psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric facilities to prevent further destabilization.
• Clarify priority problems, goals for change, and session limits according to agency policy to assist clients in developing appropriate expectations for treatment in relationship to the agency. Use a variety of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches and interventions to change targeted behaviors and stabilize adaptive behaviors with individuals, couples, and families.
• Provide 10 hours of billable services per week to clients
• Responsible for triaging behavioral health issues and must execute appropriate care recommendations based on symptoms.
• Interview collateral contacts, previous and current treatment professionals, and significant others, as needed, to further assess appropriate plan of care

Coordinate referrals to inpatient and outpatient levels of care for emergency psychiatric assessments

           2. Client Information System

• Establish appropriate professional files, including: comprehensive assessments, progress notes, treatment objectives and plans, previous treatment records, clients' consent to current treatment and for exchange of information.
• Complete required administrative and legal paperwork (such as: voluntary and involuntary paperwork, , Acknowledgment of Voluntary Admission, Insurance Pre-Certifications, etc.).
• Collect necessary information for billing and fee collection.
• Provide necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients
• Document assessments directly into the hospital EHR, where applicable, and ensure ED is provided with copies of all documentation when not able to enter directly into the client record.

3. Training Activities/Professional Growth

• Supervisor and employee mutually identify professional goals that will enhance job related skills.
• Meet with supervisor to complete mandatory monthly clinical supervision as required by the IL Department of Human Services.
• Participate in agency meetings, committees, and special projects to enhance professional expertise.
• Complete all mandatory education requirements by specified deadlines.
• Participate in staff meetings and in-services to keep abreast of agency policies and procedures, meet requirements for continuing education, and upgrade professional knowledge.

             4. Consultation/Networking

• Engage in appropriate teamwork functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.
• Develop cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.

      5. Job Relationships

• Embodies and supports the Memorial Health System Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Communicate directly with designated supervisor for clinical supervision, clarification of administrative policy, program evaluation to promote a professional working environment and effective service delivery system.

6. Other Job Responsibilities

• Share information on agency philosophy, procedures, policies, and treatment modalities to help prospective clients and interested citizens to understand MBH operations.
• Respond to requests for service from the community and link to appropriate clinic program or outside agencies
• Performs other related work as required or requested.

 The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.